The National Basketball Association recently announced its All-NBA Team comprised of what is considered to be the best five players at each position during the 2019-20 regular season.  The league went on to name a Second Team All-NBA, a Third Team All-NBA, and they were just getting started.

There was an All-Defensive Team, an All-Rookie Team, and even an All-Bubble Team filled with players that just happened to excel during their limited time in the Orlando bubble.

I now give you the All-Injury Team.

Whether it’s the lack of conditioning due to COVID-19 restrictions, a lack of readiness due to the cancelation of the exhibition season, or simply just the curse of 2020, after three weeks of games in the National Football League players are dropping like flies.

The San Francisco 49ers took the field last Sunday missing nine starters due to injury, the top two running backs in the league are on the sidelines, and millions of Fantasy Football owners have already written off the season.

After only three games, here’s a look at the 2020 NFL All-Injury Team.

Quarterback – The injury to Denver’s Drew Lock (sprained shoulder) will certainly hurt the team’s development, and San Francisco’s title hopes may have taken a hit with Jimmy Garoppolo (high ankle sprain) going down.  But my starting quarterback on the All-Injured Team has to be Tyrod Taylor, less for his importance but for the way in which it happened.  The Los Angeles Chargers starter was given an injection just before kickoff in order to numb a previous rib injury, only to have that injection accidentally puncture a lung. Whoops.

Running backs – If you took Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey (high ankle sprain) as the first pick in your Fantasy Football draft, you’ll be saddened to hear that the All-Pro will be sidelined for 3-5 weeks, but it could have been worse.  The Giants’
Saquon Barkley only had 19 rushes for 34 yards before tearing his ACL in game two.

Tight End – Considered as arguably the top tight end after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, San Francisco’s George Kittle (sprained knee) has only 4 catches for 44 yards, all from week one.

Wide Receivers – Michael Thomas (ankle) of New Orleans, and Courtland Sutton of the Broncos easily grabbed the first two spots on the All-Injury Team.  Thomas led the league in receptions (149) and yards (1,725) as the top receiver in the game last season, while Sutton’s year came to an abrupt end after a season-ending knee injury.  The third spot goes to Atlanta’s Julio Jones (hamstring) who edged out Green Bay’s Davante Adams (ankle) as both missed week three as more of a precaution.

Offensive Line – The offensive line is one area in which injuries are expected.  But for the All-Injured Team I would go with Tyron Smith (neck) of the Cowboys, Taylor Lewan (shoulder) of the Titans, Mekhi Becton (Shoulder) of the Jets, Andrus Peat (ankle) of the Saints, and Mike Pouncey, center for the Chargers who is out for the year after hip surgery.

Defensive Line – Let’s start on the edge rush where San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (ACL) and Soloman Thomas (ACL) are both lost for the season. The Washington Football Team’s second overall pick, Chase Young (groin) left the last game and never returned. Denver’s Jurrell Casey is out for the year as well after a torn bicep.  And Melvin Ingram IIIof the Chargers will miss at least three games due to a knee.

Linebackers and Secondary – The All-Injured linebacker core of Denver’s Von Miller (ankle), Minnesota’s Anthony Barr (shoulder), and Leighton Vander Esch (collarbone) of Dallas, would look great if, well, they weren’t injured.  Fill the secondary with Jamal Adams (groin) of the Seahawks, Jabrill Peppers (ankle) of the Giants, Denzel Ward(groin) of Cleveland, and maybe a Chris Harris Jr. (foot) or Derwin James Jr. (knee) of the Chargers and you’re good.

And finally, rounding out the All-Injured Team are Josh Lambo and Brandon Wright of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Lambo is currently on the injured reserve list with a hip injury, and Wright was pulled from the last game due to a groin issue.  They are the Jaguar’s kicker and punter, respectively.

Congratulations to all that made the All-Injury Team, and for those who hope to make it soon…

…break a leg.

Images via bleacherreport.com, masslive.com, forbes.com, ninersnation.com, mercurynews.com, sbnation.com, denverpost.com.

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship